Investigating the Influence of Thermal Conductivity and Thermal Storage of Lightweight Concrete Panels on the Energy and Thermal Comfort in Residential Buildings
Abstract
:1. Introduction
- To develop and measure the thermal properties of various lightweight panels with varying resistance and storage. Most of the previous research used hypothetical envelope properties to numerically investigate the impact of material properties on building thermal and energy performance. Kumar et al. [25] retrofit a typical Victorian house using phase material blanket, insulation, and aerogel rendered layer-wise. Their applications on the outside of an external wall were the most economical retrofit option with optimum phase change temperature and thickness of 25–32 °C and 25 mm, respectively. Al-Yasiri and Szabo determined that applying a 15 mm thick paraffin wax layer on the top of the test unit in a hot climate had lowered daily operative temperature by 6 °C. They also reduced the daily CO2 emissions by 2 kg in an air-conditioned house [40]. Yang et al. [41] compared the melting behavior of macro-encapsulation of PCM panels with pyramidal and tetrahedral surfaces. They found that the pyramidal surface melted 21% more PCM than tetrahedral surface due to higher surface area exposed to indoor environment. PCM and concrete panels were considered separate layers in the simulation instead of a single layer of PCM-integrated concrete panel, which is not real. To overcome this issue, six different lightweight concrete panels were developed, and their thermal properties were measured using appropriate standards. For instance, ASTM C830, ASTM C109, and ASTM D5334 standards were followed to measure density, compressive strength, and thermal conductivity, respectively, of developed concrete material [15,17].
- To numerically investigate the impact of thermal resistance and storage of developed lightweight concrete panels on thermal comfort and energy savings in a case study house. The measured thermal properties in objective 1 were used in the respective numerical modeling of the lightweight panels.
2. Research Methodology
2.1. Sample Preparation
2.1.1. Preparation of Form-Stable PCM (FSPCM) Composites
2.1.2. Preparation of Concrete Panels
2.2. Measurement of Thermal Properties
2.2.1. Thermal Conductivity
2.2.2. Latent Heat Storage
2.3. Operational Energy and Thermal Performance of Developed Panels
2.4. Life Cycle Cost Analysis of Developed Panels
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Impact of Developed Panels on Indoor Overheating
3.2. Impact of Developed Panels on Heating and Cooling Energy Savings
3.3. PCM Melting and Solidification Status
3.4. Life Cycle Cost and Payback Period of Developed Panels in a Typical Victorian House
4. Conclusions and Future Recommendations
- (1)
- Thermal mass has more influence on severe discomfort hours compared to thermal resistance. However, the thermal mass has a very low influence on severe discomfort hours when placed in an insulated wall between the insulation and outdoor environment. When the thermal mass is placed between the insulation and indoor environment, the presence of insulation has no significant impact on the number of severe discomfort hours. An increase in wall thermal resistance does not necessarily decrease the number of severe discomfort hours.
- (2)
- The presence of an insulation layer between indoor environment and the developed panels in external walls also significantly reduces the energy savings rate. When the insulation layer was placed between the developed panels and outdoor environment, and the developed panels were placed close to the indoors (case 4), the presence of insulation did not have a significant impact on energy savings rate.
- (3)
- In the case of an insulated wall, the thermal mass should be added after the insulation closer to the indoor environment. In the case of a non-insulated wall, the thermal mass can be placed close to outdoor environment as well.
- (4)
- The resistance is more influential than thermal mass when the panel is placed close to the outdoors. The opposite is true when the panel is placed close to the indoors.
- (5)
- The heating energy consumption is more influenced by the resistance compared to thermal mass. In contrast, the cooling energy consumption is more influenced by the thermal mass than the resistance. Therefore, a balance is required between these two parameters to make an optimum panel.
- (6)
- The 20 mm thick HRSP1 is the most economical option for building envelope applications, with the minimum life cycle cost and payback period. The TESP is the next cheapest option after HRSP1. Additionally, TESP was found to be the best panel to reduce severe discomfort hours and energy consumption in most cases. Hence, TESP is considered the best option in terms of cost, energy, and comfort.
Author Contributions
Funding
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Panels | Cement | Water | Sand | FSPCM Composites | Porous Materials |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
kg/m3 | |||||
NCP | 520 | 252 | 1430 | - | - |
REGP | 520 | 252 | 286 | - | 194 |
SAGP | 520 | 252 | 172 | - | 52 |
HRSP1 | 520 | 252 | 172 | 155 | 70 |
HRSP2 | 520 | 252 | 172 | 155 | 21 |
TESP | 520 | 252 | 172 | 258 | - |
Building Materials | Design and Thermo-Physical Parameters | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Thickness (m) | Conductivity (W/m K) | Density (kg/m3) | Specific Heat (J/kg K) | |
Concrete | 0.100 | 1.42 | 2400 | 880 |
Brick veneer | 0.110 | 0.61 | 1690 | 878 |
Roof insulation | 0.044 | 0.044 | 12 | 883 |
Wall insulation | 0.044 | 0.044 | 12 | 883 |
Roof tiles | 0.02 | 1.42 | 2400 | 880 |
Ceramic tiles | 0.012 | - | 2000 | - |
Carpet | 0.02 | 0.0465 | 104 | 1420 |
Paint | - | - | - | - |
Window | - | - | - | - |
Timber doors | 0.05 | 0.16 | 1122 | 1260 |
Garage door | 0.03 | - | 8000 | - |
Plasterboard | 0.013 | 0.17 | 847 | 1090 |
Developed concrete panels | 0.02, 0.1 | See Table 3 | See Table 3 | See Table 3 |
Developed Panels | Thermo-Physical Properties | Cost | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Density (kg/m3) | Conductivity (W/m K) | Specific Heat (J/kg K) | Melting Point Temperature (oC) | Enthalpy (J/g) | AUD/m2 | |
NCP | 2226 | 2.27 | 886 | - | - | 9.74 |
REGP | 1286 | 0.63 | 1.09 | - | - | 9.23 |
SAGP | 1048 | 0.28 | 1.51 | - | - | 39.05 |
HRSP1 | 1442 | 0.64 | 1.71 | 30.08 | 12.60 | 10.83 |
HRSP2 | 1280 | 0.48 | 1.78 | 30.19 | 14.72 | 23.11 |
TESP | 1504 | 0.67 | 2.13 | 23.94 | 31.45 | 12.29 |
Description | Values |
---|---|
Thickness | 0.003 m |
Overall heat transfer value | 5.5 W/(m2-K) |
Solar transmittance | 0.45 (-) |
Visible transmittance | 0.70 (-) |
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Kumar, D.; Alam, M.; Doshi, A.J. Investigating the Influence of Thermal Conductivity and Thermal Storage of Lightweight Concrete Panels on the Energy and Thermal Comfort in Residential Buildings. Buildings 2023, 13, 720. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13030720
Kumar D, Alam M, Doshi AJ. Investigating the Influence of Thermal Conductivity and Thermal Storage of Lightweight Concrete Panels on the Energy and Thermal Comfort in Residential Buildings. Buildings. 2023; 13(3):720. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13030720
Chicago/Turabian StyleKumar, Dileep, Morshed Alam, and Abhijeet Jayeshbhai Doshi. 2023. "Investigating the Influence of Thermal Conductivity and Thermal Storage of Lightweight Concrete Panels on the Energy and Thermal Comfort in Residential Buildings" Buildings 13, no. 3: 720. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13030720